CN111536944A

CN111536944A - Spirit level bubble vial mounting system for box girder leveling

Info

Publication number: CN111536944A
Application number: CN201910203151.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: T·J·沃基斯求斯基; D·C·门塞尔
Original assignee: Diamond Tech LLC
Current assignee: Diamond Tech LLC
Priority date: 2019-02-07
Filing date: 2019-03-18
Publication date: 2020-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-18
Also published as: US10928197B2; CN111536944B; US20200256673A1

Abstract

A level includes a level body having a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls, and having a window opening into the interior of the body. A level vial secured to the vial mount is positioned within the window. A vial holder is secured within the level body and includes a lower portion engaged with the bottom wall and an upper portion engaged with the upper wall on both sides of the window. A vial mount is secured to the vial holder to secure the vial in a position in which the vial is visible through the window from outside the level body. A vial position adjustment device is provided for adjusting the position of the vial relative to the level body when the vial mount is secured to the vial holder.

Description

Spirit level bubble vial mounting system for box girder leveling

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a level and, more particularly, to a system for mounting a level vial to a box-type body of the level.

Background

Levels typically include at least one bubble vial for indicating the position of a surface relative to a horizontal plane, and other bubble vials, such as one or more plumb bubble vials, for indicating the position of a surface relative to vertical. Various types of spirit levels are known, typical examples of which are those having box-type spirit levels bodies and those having I-beam type spirit bodies. In a level having a box-type level body, it is advantageous to provide visibility of the level bubble vial from both sides of the level body as well as from the top of the level body. This presents difficulties in mounting the level vial to the level body in order to secure the level vial in place while providing the desired visibility to the top and sides of the vial. This type of level also presents difficulties in mounting the bubble vial so that the orientation of the bubble vial can be adjusted to ensure that its orientation relative to the level body provides an accurate level measurement.

Disclosure of Invention

The level vial mounting system of the present invention addresses these challenges.

According to one aspect of the invention, a level includes a level body having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls extending between and interconnecting the top and bottom walls. The top wall, bottom wall and side walls cooperate to define an interior of the level body, and the level body includes a window. A level vial secured to the vial mount is positioned within the window. A vial holder is secured within the interior of the level body and includes a lower portion engaging an upwardly facing surface defined by the bottom wall and a pair of spaced apart upper portions engaging downwardly facing surfaces defined by the upper wall and positioned on either side of the window. The combination of the engagement of the lower portion of the vial holder with the upwardly facing surface defined by the bottom wall and the engagement of the upper portion of the vial holder with the downwardly facing surface of the upper wall prevents up and down movement of the vial holder relative to the level body. A vial mount is secured to the vial holder to secure the vial in a position in which the vial is visible through the window from outside the level body.

Typically, the bubble vial mounting member may be secured to the bubble vial holder by a snap-fit connection that includes a combination of one or more resilient tabs on one of the bubble vial mounting member and the bubble vial holder and one or more slots on the other of the bubble vial mounting member and the bubble vial holder. The one or more resilient tabs may engage the one or more slots as the vial mount is moved downward relative to the vial holder.

The level may include a vial position adjustment device for adjusting the position of the vial relative to the level body when the vial mount is secured to the vial holder. In one embodiment, the bubble vial mount includes a base and a bubble vial holder, and a bubble vial position adjustment device is interposed between the base and the bubble vial holder for adjusting the position of the bubble vial. Representatively, the vial position adjustment device may be in the form of a rocker arm surface, such as an arcuate facing surface, which is interposed between the base portion and the vial holder and which is combined with pairs of threaded connections on either side of the rocker arm surface. The threaded connection and the rocker arm surface enable adjustment of the angular position of the vial relative to the level body while securing the vial mount to the base.

The pair of spaced apart upper portions defined by the bubble vial holder may be in the form of a pair of resilient arms extending upwardly from a lower portion of the bubble vial holder. The window may be formed at least in part by a pair of spaced apart edges defined by the top wall of the level body, and the vial holder may be inserted downwardly through the opening in the top wall of the level body by flexing the resilient arms toward each other from the rest orientation to enable the resilient arms to pass through the opening. When the vial holder is positioned within the level body, the resilient arm is allowed to return to its rest orientation such that an upper end defined by the resilient arm engages a downwardly facing surface of the top wall adjacent an edge of the top wall.

The invention also contemplates a method of securing a level vial to a level body. Generally, the method involves: the vial holder is secured within the level body by engaging a lower portion of the vial holder with an upwardly facing surface defined by the bottom wall and engaging a pair of spaced apart upper portions of the vial holder with downwardly facing surfaces defined by the upper wall on both sides of the window, and securing the vial mount to the vial holder such that the vial is visible through the window from outside the level body. The act of securing the vial mount to the vial holder may be by a snap-fit connection comprising a combination of one or more resilient tabs on one of the vial mount and the vial holder and one or more slots on the other of the vial mount and the vial holder, wherein downward movement of the vial mount relative to the vial holder causes engagement of the one or more tabs within the one or more slots to secure the vial mount to the vial holder.

The pair of spaced apart upper portions of the vial holder may be in the form of a pair of resilient arms extending upwardly from a lower portion of the vial holder, and the vial holder may be secured to the level body by: flexing the resilient arms of the vial holder toward each other from a rest orientation, inserting the vial holder downwardly through an opening in the top wall of the level body to enable the resilient arms to pass through the opening, and releasing the resilient arms to allow the resilient arms to return to their rest orientation such that upper ends defined by the resilient arms engage a downwardly facing surface of the top wall adjacent an edge of the top wall.

This aspect of the invention may also involve: after the vial mount and vial holder are secured together, the position of the level vial with respect to the level body is adjusted. To accomplish this, the vial mount may be in the form of a vial mount secured to the base with the rocker arm surface positioned between the vial mount and the base. The act of adjusting the position of the level vial relative to the level body is performed using a pair of threaded adjustment members positioned on either side of the rocker arm surface, which secure the vial mount to the base.

It is within the scope of the invention that the individual features mentioned above may be used separately from one another or in various combinations or sub-combinations as desired.

Other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

Drawings

A clear concept of the advantages and features constituting the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the exemplary and thus non-limiting embodiments shown in the drawings, which are attached to and form a part of this specification, may be several views, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a level incorporating a level vial mounting system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view showing a portion of the frame of the level of FIG. 1 and the components of the level vial mounting system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the level vial mounting system of the present invention detached from the level body, with the components of the level vial mounting system of FIG. 2 assembled together;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the assembled level vial mounting system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of fig. 5.

In describing embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the terms "connected," "attached," or similar terms are often used. They are not limited to direct connection or attachment but include connection or attachment to other elements where such connection or attachment is recognized as an equivalent by those skilled in the art.

Detailed Description

Various features and advantageous details of the subject matter disclosed herein are set forth more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description.

FIG. 1 shows a level 10 including a level vial 12 according to the present invention, the level vial 12 being secured in place using a level vial mounting system. In a known manner, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the level 10 includes a box-type frame or body 14, the box-type frame or body 14 having a top wall 16, a bottom wall 18, and a pair of

side walls

20, 22, the pair of

side walls

20, 22 extending between the top and

bottom walls

16, 18 and interconnecting the top and

bottom walls

16, 18. The top wall 16, bottom wall 18, and

side walls

20, 22 cooperate to define an interior 24 of the level body 14. Within interior 24, the lower region of side wall 20 is provided with a channel 23 directly above the top surface of level body bottom wall 18. Similarly, the lower region of the side wall 22 is provided with a channel 25 directly above the top surface of the level body bottom wall 18.

The level body 14 includes a window that provides visibility of the level vial 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the window is formed by an opening in the top wall 14, which is located between the pair of spaced

apart edges

26a, 26b, and which combines with the cut-out region of the side wall 20 defined by the side wall edge 28 and the cut-out region of the side wall 22 defined by the side wall edge 30.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a level vial mounting system or assembly according to the present invention, which is used to secure level vial 12 in position relative to level body 14. The level vial mounting system or assembly generally includes a vial holder 34 in combination with a vial mount including a base 36 and a vial mount 38. The bubble vial mounting system or assembly further includes a cover 40 and a frame 42. In the manner to be explained, vial holder 34, vial mounting base 36 and bracket 38 function to secure vial 12 to level body 14. Cover 40 and frame 42 function to protect bubble vial 12 and provide visibility of bubble vial 12 when bubble vial 12 is secured in place on level body 14.

Still referring to fig. 2 and 3, bubble vial holder 34 includes a lower portion having a pair of

side walls

44a, 44b with a pair of

end sections

46a, 46b positioned between the pair of

side walls

44a, 44 b.

Sidewalls

44a, 44b and

end sections

46a, 46b cooperate to define an inner chamber 48 in the lower portion of bubble vial holder 34. The

side walls

44a, 44b are provided with respective

vertical slots

50a, 50b which form respective

central wall sections

52a, 52 b.

Horizontal slots

54a, 54b are formed in the

central wall sections

52a, 52b, respectively. The

central wall sections

52a, 52b also include

respective ribs

55a, 55b between the

vertical slots

50a, 50 b.

Bubble vial holder 34 further includes a pair of spaced apart

arms

56a, 56b extending upwardly from the aforementioned lower portion of bubble vial holder 34 at opposite ends defined by bubble vial holder 34. The arm 56a has a pair of shouldered projections 58a at its upper end, and similarly, the arm 56b has a pair of shouldered projections 58b at its upper end.

Bubble vial mounting base 36 includes a lower portion having a pair of

side walls

62a, 62b and a pair of

end walls

64a, 64 b. Bubbler tube mounting base 36 further comprises a support wall 66, with support wall 66 having an arcuate upper surface. Below the support wall 66, the

side walls

62a, 62b comprise cut-out regions in which elastic shouldered

tabs

68a, 68b are positioned, respectively. A pair of laterally spaced

prongs

70a, 70b extend upwardly from the support arms at each end of the bubble vial mounting base 36. A channel 71a is formed in a portion of the support wall 66 located between the lower ends of the prongs 70a and, similarly, a channel 71b is formed in a portion of the support wall 66 located between the lower ends of the prongs 70 b.

Bubble vial holder 38 includes a bottom wall 72 having an arcuate lower surface and a pair of

end walls

74a, 74b extending upwardly from each end of bottom wall 72. The

end walls

74a, 74b define facing

rims

76a, 76b, respectively. Pairs of tabs 78a extend outwardly from bubble vial holder end wall 74a, and similarly pairs of tabs 78b extend outwardly from end wall 74 b. A shouldered

channel

79a, 79b is defined between the

tabs

78a, 78b, respectively. As will be explained, pairs of threaded members, such as

screws

80a, 80b, are employed to secure bubble vial mount 38 to bubble vial mounting base 36.

Level vial 12 is of the type commonly referred to as a block vial, formed from a single piece of material in which bores or channels are formed and which contains a quantity of liquid that forms a level indicating bubble. In the illustrated embodiment, the ends of bubble vial 12 are formed with

shoulders

84a, 84 b. The bottom of bubble vial 12 is flat and adapted to rest on the upper surface of bubble vial holder bottom wall 38 and be supported by the upper surface of bubble vial holder bottom wall 38. The external configuration of

shoulders

84a, 84b matches the internal configuration defined by

rims

76a, 76b on

respective end walls

74a, 74b of bubble vial holder 38 such that when the bottom of bubble vial 12 is positioned on the upper surface of bubble vial holder bottom wall 38, the ends of bubble vial 12 are received within

rims

76a, 76b and surrounded by

rims

76a, 76b, respectively. In this manner, bubble vial 12 and bubble vial holder 38 are assembled together in the manner to be explained as a subassembly for mounting to level body 14.

Cover 40 is configured to be placed over level vial 12. The cover 40 includes a pair of

end sections

86a, 86b and

side sections

88a, 88b extending between the

end sections

86a, 86b and connecting the

end sections

86a, 86 b. The

cover end sections

86a, 86b and

side sections

88a, 88b cooperate to define an upwardly and outwardly facing open area, and which generally corresponds in shape to the window in the level body 14. In this manner, cover 40 provides visibility to the top and sides of level vial 12 when cover 40 is positioned on level vial 12. Overlay 40 includes engagement tabs, such as shown at 90, that provide a snap fit on side lips defined by level vial 12 to enable overlay 40 to engage with and be secured to level vial 12.

The frame 42 includes a pair of

end portions

94a, 94b and a pair of

side members

96a, 96b extending between the

end portions

94a, 94b and interconnecting the

end portions

94a, 94 b. The

end portions

94a, 94b of the frame 42 are configured to be positioned over the

end sections

86a, 86b of the cover 40, respectively, and secured to the

end sections

86a, 86 b. Frame 42 defines an open area that is similarly configured to the open area of cover 40 to provide visibility to the top and sides of level vial 12. Frame 42 also serves to provide protection to the exposed surfaces of level vial 12.

The manner in which vial holder 34, vial mounting base 36, vial mount 38, cover 40 and frame 42 are used to assemble level vial 12 to level body 14 is described below.

In a first assembly step, vial holder 34 is inserted into interior 24 of level body 14 and positioned within interior 24 of level body 14. To accomplish this, the lower portion of bubble vial holder 34 is inserted through the opening in top wall 16 between

top wall edges

26a, 26 b. The length of the lower portion of bubble vial holder 34 is only slightly less than the width of the opening defined between

top wall edges

26a, 26 b.

Arms

56a, 56b of vial holder 34 are then flexed toward one another, and vial holder 34 is further advanced into interior 24 of level body 14. This inward flexing of the

arms

56a, 56b allows the

arms

56a, 56b to advance past the

top wall edges

26a, 26 b. Vial holder 34 continues to advance into interior 24 of level body 14 until the bottom edges of

vial holder sidewalls

44a, 44b contact the top surface of level body bottom wall 18, as shown in fig. 5 and 6. These figures also show that the width of the lower portion of vial holder 34 is only slightly less than the width of the level body interior 24 defined between the facing inner surfaces of level body sidewalls 20, 22. Thus, as vial holder 34 advances into level body interior 24,

sidewall center sections

52a, 52b flex slightly inwardly toward one another as

ribs

55a, 55b engage the inner surfaces of level body sidewalls 20, 22, respectively. As vial holder 34 advances such that the bottom edges of vial

holder side walls

44a, 44b engage the upwardly facing surface of level body bottom wall 18,

ribs

55a, 55b align with respective

side wall channels

23, 25 and

side wall sections

52a, 52b flex outwardly, causing a snap-type engagement of

ribs

55a, 55b within

respective channels

23, 25. When the bottom edges of vial

holder side walls

44a, 44b engage the upwardly facing surface of level body bottom wall 18,

arms

56a, 56b are allowed to return from their inwardly flexed position to their normal upright position, thereby engaging shouldered

projections

58a, 58b with respective

top wall edges

26a, 26 b. The outer portion of each shouldered projection 58a is located below the top wall edge 26a while the inner portion of each shouldered projection 58a contacts the surface of the edge 26a defining the top wall opening. Similarly, the outer portion of each shouldered projection 58b is located below the top wall edge 26b, while the inner portion of each shouldered projection 58b contacts the surface of the edge 26b defining the top wall opening. In this manner, vial holder 34 is locked to level body 14, thereby preventing horizontal or axial movement of vial holder 34 relative to level body 14 and vertical or up and down movement of vial holder 34 relative to level body 14.

Once the vial holder is secured to the level body 14 as described above, vial mounting base 36 engages vial holder 34. This engagement of vial mounting base 36 can be accomplished before or after the subassembly of vial mount 38 and level vial 12 is secured to vial mounting base 36. Vial mounting base 36 is engaged with vial holder 34 by inserting a lower portion of vial mounting base 36 into the interior of vial holder 34 defined by

side walls

44a, 44b and

end sections

46a, 46 b. When bubble vial mounting base 36 is in the engaged position with the underside of support wall 66 contacting the upper edges of

side walls

44a, 44b and

end sections

46a, 46b,

tabs

68a, 68b snap into

slots

54a, 54b of

respective side walls

44a, 44b, as shown in fig. 5. The length of vial mounting base 36 is such that it fits snugly between the facing surfaces of

vial retaining arms

56a, 56b to prevent horizontal or axial movement of vial mounting base 36 relative to vial retainer 34, and the engagement of

tabs

68a, 68b within

slots

54a, 54b prevents vertical or up-and-down movement of vial mounting base 36 relative to vial retainer 34.

As noted, engagement of vial mounting base 36 with vial holder 34 can occur before or after the subassembly of vial mount 38 and level vial 12 is secured to vial mounting base 36. To secure the subassembly of vial holder 38 and level vial 12 to vial mounting base 36, vial holder 38 is advanced between pairs of

prongs

70a, 70b on vial mounting base 36 extending upwardly from each end of vial mounting base 36. In so doing, the tabs 78a move downwardly through the space between the prongs 70a, and the tabs 78b move downwardly through the space between the prongs 70 b. When vial support 38 is fully engaged with vial mounting base 36, the arcuate underside of vial support bottom wall 72 contacts the arcuate upwardly facing surface of vial mounting base support arm 66. When bubble vial holder 38 is fully engaged with bubble vial mounting base 36, the outwardly extending tabs on bubble vial holder end wall 74a are received within the vertically extending slots in prong 70a, and similarly, the outwardly extending tabs on bubble vial holder end wall 74b are received within the vertically extending slots in prong 70 b. Next, screws are inserted through the respective shouldered

channels

79a, 79b and into the

respective channels

71a, 71b of the bubble tube mounting base 36. As shown in fig. 6, vial holder end section 26a includes a channel that aligns with channel 71a in vial mounting base 36 with which the threaded shank of screw 80a engages, and similarly, vial holder end section 26b includes a channel that aligns with channel 71b in vial mounting base 36 with which the threaded shank of screw 80b engages to securely fix vial mount 38 to vial mounting base 36 and vial holder 34.

Screws

80a, 80b are first advanced an amount sufficient to securely engage bubble vial mount 38 to bubble vial mounting base 36. Thereafter, screws 80a, 80b may be selectively advanced or retracted to adjust the position of level vial 12 relative to level body 14 and to ensure that level vial 12 is in a true horizontal position when level body 14 is placed on a horizontal surface. The rocker-arm surface defined by the interface between the arcuate top surface of support wall 66 of vial mounting base 36 and the arcuate underside of bottom wall 72 of vial mount 38 allows for such adjustment in the orientation of level vial 12 while maintaining secure and firm engagement of vial mount 38 with vial mounting base 36.

Once the desired position of level vial 12 has been obtained as described above, cover 40 is snapped onto level vial 12 and frame 42 is secured to cover 40. As described above, the various surfaces of the overlay piece 40 function to cover, conceal and protect the various spaces and interfaces between the underlying components to provide protective and aesthetic functions. Frame 42 is then secured to cover 40, again to provide the final appearance of level vial 12 and protection of its surface.

Thus, it can be appreciated that the level vial mounting system of the present invention as shown and described provides a relatively simple and robust means for engaging and maintaining a level vial in position with a level body. The vial mounting system also provides the following capabilities, if desired: the position of the vial is adjusted relative to the level body during initial manufacture and thereafter.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is also to be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention.

Claims

1. A spirit level comprising:

a level body comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls extending between and interconnecting the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, and the side walls cooperate to define an interior of the level body, and wherein the level body comprises a window;

a level vial positioned within the window of the level body, wherein the level vial is secured to a vial mount;

a vial holder secured within the interior of the level body, wherein the vial holder includes a lower portion engaged with an upwardly facing surface defined by the bottom wall and a pair of spaced apart upper portions engaged with downwardly facing surfaces defined by the top wall and located on either side of the window, wherein engagement of the lower portion of the vial holder with the upwardly facing surface defined by the bottom wall and engagement of the upper portion of the vial holder with the downwardly facing surface of the top wall prevents up-and-down movement of the vial holder relative to the level body; and

wherein the vial mount is secured to the vial holder and the vial is visible from outside the level body through the window.

2. The level of claim 1, wherein the vial mount is secured to the vial holder by a snap-fit connection.

3. The level of claim 2, wherein the snap-fit connection comprises a combination of one or more resilient tabs on one of the vial mount and the vial holder and one or more slots on the other of the vial mount and the vial holder, wherein the one or more resilient tabs are engageable in the one or more slots upon downward movement of the vial mount relative to the vial holder.

4. The level of claim 1 further comprising vial position adjustment means for adjusting the position of the vial relative to the level body when the vial mount is secured to the vial holder.

5. The level of claim 4, wherein the bubble vial mount comprises a base and a bubble vial mount, and wherein the bubble vial position adjustment device is interposed between the base and the bubble vial mount for adjusting the position of the bubble vial.

6. The level of claim 5, wherein said vial position adjustment device includes a rocker arm surface interposed between said base portion and said vial holder in combination with a pair of threaded connectors on either side of said rocker arm surface, wherein said threaded connectors and said rocker arm surface are capable of adjusting the angular position of said vial with respect to said level body and securing said vial holder to said base portion.

7. The level of claim 6, wherein said rocker-arm surface comprises complementary and facing arcuate surfaces defined by said vial mount and said base.

8. The level according to claim 1, wherein said pair of spaced apart upper portions defined by said vial holder includes a pair of resilient arms extending upwardly from said lower portion of said vial holder.

9. The level of claim 8, wherein the window is defined at least in part between a pair of spaced edges of the top wall by an opening in the top wall of the level body, wherein the vial holder is inserted downwardly through the opening in the top wall of the level body and the resilient arms of the vial holder flex toward each other from a rest orientation to enable the resilient arms to pass through the opening, and wherein when the vial holder is positioned within the interior of the level body, the resilient arms are allowed to return to their rest orientation with upper ends defined by the resilient arms adjacent the edges of the top wall engaging the downwardly facing surface of the top wall.

10. A spirit level comprising:

a level body comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls extending between and interconnecting the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, and the side walls cooperate to define an interior of the level body, and wherein the level body comprises a window defined at least in part by an opening in the top wall of the level body between a pair of spaced apart edges of the top wall;

a vial retainer secured within the interior of the level body, wherein the vial retainer includes a lower portion engaged with an upwardly facing surface defined by the bottom wall and a pair of spaced apart arms extending upwardly from the lower portion, wherein an upper end of each of the arms is adjacent one of the pair of spaced apart edges of the opening in the top wall in the level body and is engaged with a downwardly facing surface defined by the top wall, wherein engagement of the lower portion of the vial retainer with the upwardly facing surface defined by the bottom wall and engagement of the upper ends of the arms with the downwardly facing surface of the top wall prevents upward and downward movement of the vial retainer relative to the level body; and

11. The level of claim 10, wherein the vial mount is secured to the vial holder by a snap-fit connection comprising a combination of one or more resilient tabs on one of the vial mount and the vial holder and one or more slots on the other of the vial mount and the vial holder, wherein the one or more resilient tabs are engageable in the one or more slots upon downward movement of the vial mount relative to the vial holder.

12. The level of claim 10, wherein the vial mount includes a base portion and a vial mount, and further comprising a vial position adjustment device interposed between the base portion and the vial mount for adjusting the position of the vial relative to the level body when the vial mount is secured to the vial holder, wherein the vial position adjustment device includes a rocker arm surface interposed between the base portion and the vial mount and incorporating a pair of threaded connectors on either side of the rocker arm surface, wherein the threaded connectors and the rocker arm surface are capable of adjusting the angular position of the vial relative to the level body and securing the vial mount to the base portion.

13. A spirit level comprising:

a vial holder secured within the interior of the level body, wherein the vial mount is secured to the vial holder and the vial is visible from outside the level body through the window; and

a vial position adjustment device for adjusting a position of the vial relative to the level body when the vial mount is secured to the vial holder.

14. The level of claim 13, wherein the bubble vial mount comprises a base and a bubble vial mount, and wherein the bubble vial position adjustment device is interposed between the base and the bubble vial mount for adjusting the position of the bubble vial.

15. The level of claim 14, wherein said vial position adjustment device comprises a rocker arm surface interposed between said base portion and said vial holder in combination with a pair of threaded connectors on either side of said rocker arm surface, wherein said threaded connectors and said rocker arm surface are capable of adjusting the angular position of said vial with respect to said level body and securing said vial holder to said base portion.

16. The level of claim 15, wherein said rocker-arm surface comprises complementary and facing arcuate surfaces defined by said vial mount and said base.

17. A method of securing a level vial to a level body, the level body including a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls extending between and interconnecting the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, and the side walls cooperate to define an interior of the level body, and wherein the level body includes a window, the method comprising the steps of:

securing a vial holder within the interior of the level body by: engaging a lower portion of the vial holder with an upwardly facing surface defined by the bottom wall and a pair of spaced apart upper portions of the vial holder with a downwardly facing surface defined by the top wall on both sides of the window, wherein engagement of the lower portion of the vial holder with the upwardly facing surface defined by the bottom wall and engagement of the upper portion of the vial holder with the downwardly facing surface of the top wall prevents up-and-down movement of the vial holder relative to the level body; and

securing the vial mount to the vial holder such that the vial is visible from outside the level body through the window.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of securing the vial mount to the vial holder is performed by a snap-fit connection comprising a combination of one or more resilient tabs on one of the vial mount and the vial holder and one or more slots on the other of the vial mount and the vial holder, wherein downward movement of the vial mount relative to the vial holder causes engagement of the one or more tabs within the one or more slots to secure the vial mount to the vial holder.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the window is defined at least in part by an opening in the top wall of the level body between a pair of spaced edges of the top wall, and wherein the pair of spaced upper portions of the vial holder include a pair of resilient arms extending upwardly from the lower portion of the vial holder, and wherein the vial holder is secured to the level body by: flexing the resilient arms of the vial holder toward each other from a rest orientation, inserting the vial holder downwardly through the opening in the top wall of the level body such that the resilient arms can pass through the opening, and releasing the resilient arms to allow the resilient arms to return to their rest orientation and to allow an upper end defined by the resilient arms to be adjacent the edge of the top wall to engage the downwardly facing surface of the top wall.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of: adjusting a position of the level vial relative to the level body after securing the vial mount and the vial holder together.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the vial mount comprises a vial mount secured to a base, wherein a rocker arm surface is positioned between the vial mount and the base, and wherein the step of adjusting the position of the level vial relative to the level body is performed by using a pair of threaded adjustment members located on either side of the rocker arm surface and securing the vial mount to the base.